Meta Knight Guide: Matchup Chart and Combos

This is a guide to using Meta Knight in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Meta Knight's bread and butter combos, how to unlock, frame data, alt costumes and skins, as well as Meta Knight's matchups, counters, and tier list placement can all be found here.

Meta Knight Tier and Overview

Stats and General Info

Meta Knight
Game Series	Kirby
Smash Bros. Debut	Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Fighter Number	27
Unlock Order	38
Number of Jumps	6
Weight	80 Units (77/87)
Dash Speed	2.09 (16/87)
Air Speed	1.04 (47/87)
Fast Fall Speed	2.656 (33/87)
Special Attributes	None

Tier List Placement

Tier

A combo heavy character who excels in the air

Smash Ultimate Meta Knight is a character with access to several combos for damaging opponents and taking stocks. In order to make the most of this character, Meta Knight players will need to factor in their opponents' weight and percents in selecting the best combo for a situation. He is a somewhat difficult character to master, so those who want to main Meta Knight will need to put significant time into locking down his combos.

See Our Tier List Here!

Meta Knight's Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	・Moveset contains many good combo starters ・Small hurtbox makes it hard to hit him ・Multiple jumps and powerful recovery allow him to recover easily ・Great at edgeguarding ・Very good at recovering from disadvantage (Down B is useful for this) ・High air speed
Weaknesses	・Struggles to take stocks when combos don't land ・Poor range despite having a sword ・Can struggle against characters with projectiles

Meta Knight Matchup Chart

Matchup Chart

-2
-1
0
+1
+2

Notes About Matchup Chart

1. -2 = Disadvantage. -1 = Slight Disadvantage or Even. 0 = Even. +1 = Slight Advantage or Even. +2 = Advantage.
2. The matchup chart was based around both the opinions of professional players of each character, as well as our own experience through playing Meta Knight.
3. Characters within each tier are unordered
4. Pokemon Trainer's individual Pokemon (Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard) as well as Echo fighters with no significant difference than their regular counterpart are not shown.
5. For other characters who are not shown here, we are still investigating the matchup.

Meta Knight Combos

Bread and Butter Combos
Down Throw→(Walk forward)→Up Special or Up Tilt
Down Throw→Fair or Reverse Bair
Forward Throw→Dash Attack→Up Air→Up Special
Dash Attack→Up Tilt or Up Special or Up Air
Down Tilt→Up Special (When opponent is knocked down)
Advanced Combos
Down Throw→Nair (late hit)→Dash Attack→Up Air
Fair (Bair)→(Walk forward)→Jump→Up Special
Up Air (Reverse hit)→Jump→Dair→Dair→Bair (Large opponents only)

Bread and Butter Combos Explanation

Down Throw→(Walk forward)→Up Special or Up Tilt

An easy Metaknight combo. Depending on the opponent's position after down throw, dash to move forward some and then throw out an up special. Up special has ending lag, so when an opponent is at a low percentage, use up tilt instead of up special.

Down Throw→Fair or Reverse Bair

This will send the opponent flying to the side, so depending on the starting position you may send them over the edge.

Forward Throw→Dash Attack→Up Air→Up Special

This combo can be used on opponents with lower percents.

Dash Attack→Up Tilt or Up Special or Up Air

A combo that starts with dash attack.

Down Tilt→Up Special

When an opponent is down, this combo is effective (does not work if oppoenent techs). Use this combo to kill opponents with high percents.

Advanced Combos Explanation

Down Throw→Nair (late hit)→Dash Attack→Up Air

An effective Metaknight combo to rack up high damage. Practice using it in Training Mode to perfect it.

Fair→(Walk forward)→Jump→Up Special

A killing combo. This combo can be used even if the first hit is back air.

Up Air (Reverse hit)→Jump→Dair→Dair→Bair
(Large opponents only)

This combo only works against large opponents, but landing the reverse hit of up air will allow you to kill opponents.

Meta Knight Frame Data and Moveset

Best Out of Shield Options

Move	Frames
Down Air	7 Frames
Up B	8 Frames
Up Smash	8 Frames
Neutral Air	9 Frames
Up Air	9 Frames
Back Air	10 Frames
Shield Grab	11 Frames

Meta Knight's quick frame data gives him decent out of shield options, although his small hitboxes can make them hard to effectively land on an opponent, especially aganst well spaced attacks. While down air is his fastest option, generally up special, up smash, or neutral air will his go-to out of shield moves. Up special is very quick, and powerful if landed, but whiffing it will leave Meta Knight quite vulnerable, so it should be used with caution (after considering risk/reward). Up Smash has a decent hitbox above Meta Knight, so it can be used for opponents above him. Neutral air, while a bit slower than the other options, is a great option out of shield, thanks to its long lasting hitbox and high knockback.

Jab (Neutral Attack)

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Jab 1 (A)	1.2	4/7/10/13/16/19/22
Rapid Jab (Finisher)	2.4	3

Jab

Meta Knight's Jab starts with a hit and then a flurry that deals a blow that knocks your opponent back horizontally. The rapid jab begins immediately after starting the move, so beware of endlag.

Dash Attack / Tilts

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Dash Attack (Dash ＋ A)	8.4	7
Dash Attack (sour spot)	7.2	7
Forward Tilt (← or → + A)	2.4	2.0
Forward Tilt 2 (← or → + A)	2.4	2.0
Forward Tilt 3 (← or → + A)	4.8	2.0
Up Tilt (↑ + A)	8.4	8
Up Tilt (sour spot)	7.2	8
Down Tilt (↓ + A)	6	3

Dash Attack

Meta Knight's Dash Attack has him kicking forward as he flies towards his opponent. It is one of his combo starters, so mix up dashing at an opponent with either dash attack or grab→down throw.

Forward Tilt

Meta Knight's Forward Tilt is a a three-hit combo that launches your opponent at the end. You can use it to poke at opponents since the first hit has little end lag, and it functions similarly to a jab.

Up Tilt

Meta Knight's Up Tilt has him thrusting his sword into the air. It is good for starting air combos, but it has a narrow hitbox, so it it hard to hit opponents on the side of Meta Knight. It makes for a great combo starter if your opponent is directly above you.

Down Tilt

Meta Knight low to the ground with his sword. Its quick startup and decent range make it good as a poking tool for pressuring shields. It is also useful as a combo starter.

Smash Attacks

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Forward Smash (Smash ← or → + A）	19.2	24
Up Smash 1 (Smash ↑ + A)	4.8	8
Up Smash 2	3.6	12
Up Smash 3	6	17
Down Smash (Smash ↓ + A)	12	4
Down Smash 2	15.6	9

Forward Smash

Meta Knight's Forward Smash is great for knocking opponents away horizontally, and since it has very little endlag, it can be used to pressure opponents as well.

Up Smash

Since Meta Knight's Up Smash starts up quickly, it can be used out of a dash or as an out of shield punish.

Down Smash

Meta Knight's down smash attacks on both sides of him. Note that his back hit is stronger than his front hit, so if you want KO an opponent, be sure to hit your opponents with the back hit. It has very quick startup, and is useful for catching rolls, or as a quick whiff punish.

Aerials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Air (A + no direction while airborne)	12	6
Neutral Air (delayed hit)	9	8
Forward Air (Hold ← or → in the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	1.2	9
Forward Air 2	1.2	12
Forward Air 3(last hit)	3.6	15
Back Air (← or → Opposite of the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	1.8	7
Back Air 2 (2nd hit)	1.8	13
Back Air 3 (3nd hit)	4.8	20
Up Air 1 (↑ + A While Airborne)	4.8	6
Down Air (↓ + A While Airborne)	7.2	4

Neutral Air

Meta Knight's Neutral Air has quick start up, and a hitbox surrounding Meta Knight, so it can be used to edgeguard, or ledgetrap opponents, thanks to its powerful knockback.

Forward Air

Meta Knight swings his sword three times forward in the air. Meta Knight's forward air has excellent range and knockback, and will swipe three times. It is mostly used as a tool for pressuring opponents, or as a combo finisher offstage.

Back Air

Meta Knight swings his sword repeatedly behind him. Meta Knight's back air has excellent range and knockback, and can be used to KO opponents in a combo, and it is also great for edgeguarding opponents offstage.

Up Air

Meta Knight swipes his sword above him, and when used with his multiple jumps, can be used to rack up damage and juggle opponents. Especially if platforms are present, Meta Knight is capable of using ladder combos to lift the opponent high up and finish them off with an up special.

Down Air

Meta Knight's down air is extremely quick. Meta Knight swipes his sword below him, and the move is mostly used to carry opponents upwards and continue comboing them.

Specials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Special (B)	14.4	12
Side Special (← or → + B)	1.32 per tick	26
Side Special (last hit)	3.6	70
Up Special (↑ + B)	7.2	7
Up Special (2nd hit)	7.2	20
Down Special (ground, forward)	15.6	34
Down Special (Aerial, forward)	16.8	34
Down Special	19.2	34

All of Meta Knight's specials render him unable to jump afterwards.

Neutral Special (Mach Tornado)

Mach Tornado makes Meta Knight spin around in a tornado, where he can either remain in place or move around quickly. It can be used to KO due to its high knockback, as well as edge uard if you tap B constantly midair, as it lifts you up if you do so. If you hit the wall while performing the edge guard, you are more than likely going to bounce off and fall to your death, so be mindful of your own position.

Side Special (Drill Rush)

Drill Rush has Meta Knight charge forward with his sword in a drilling motion, able to go diagonally up or down. It deals strong damage and knockback, but has a lot of startup and ending lag, so be careful not to use the move recklessly.

Up Special (Shuttle Loop)

Shuttle Loop comes out quick and carries Meta Knight high, and is a decent recovery. It can be used out of shield to KO opponents at higher percents, though it is easily punish if whiffed. For the most part, it is used as a combo finisher after lifting opponents high into the air via up airs and Meta Knights multi-jumps . For recovery, use this only after you've exhausted all your jumps, as you cannot jump after performing this.

Down Special (Dimensional Cape)

This technique allows you to warp in the direction you like, making it good for closing or making distance, and if the button is held, Meta Knight will teleport back with an attack, though the warp distance will be somewhat shorter. It can be used to KO opponents, or to mix up your landing.

Grab / Throws

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Pummel	1.2	1
Grab (Normal)	-	7
Dash Grab	-	11
Pivot Grab	-	12
Forward Throw (Hitbox) (← or → While Grabbing)	7.2	8
Forward Throw (Throw)	3.6	10
Back Throw (Hitbox) (← or → While Grabbing)	8.4	16
Back Throw (Throw)	3.6	18
Up Throw (Hitbox) (↑ While Grabbing)	8.4	39
Up Throw (Throw)	12	45
Down Throw (Hitbox) (↓ While Grabbing)	0.6	11/17/23/29/35/41/47/53/59
Down Throw (1th hit)	1.2	73
Down Throw (Throw)	2.4	75

Forward Throw

Meta Knight's Forward Throw slightly launches your opponent forward, allowing you to follow up into with a dash attack

Back Throw

Meta Knight's Back Throw deals more damage than forward throw, but is similar in terms of knockback. It is mostly only used for gaining stage control or puttng an opponent offstage.

Up Throw

Meta Knight's up throw will put an opponent above him, but it does not combo into anything, so it is usually a throw that is best not to use.

Down Throw

Meta Knight's down throw is a multihit combo has Meta Knight repeatedly kick his opponents under him then launch them slightly. It is useful as a combo starter.

Final Smash

Attack	How to Use	Effect
Darkness Illusion	Press B after obtaining the Smash Ball	Meta Knight swings his sword and summons a bolt of lightning. An opponent hit by the lightning is lifted into the air, where Meta Knight slashes at them multiple times, before finishing them off with a powerful strike. If the initial lightning bolt doesn't hit anyone, the attack will fail.

Meta Knight Balance Changes

Version 13.0.1 Balance Patch

	Change
Up Smash Attack	Increased attack range. Adjusted so opponents won’t fall over when hit with the first or second hit.
Forward Air Attack	Increased power.
Back Air Attack	Increased power.
Up Throw	Extended launch distance.

Version 8.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Neutral Air Attack	Increased attack range.
Forward Air Attack	Reduced vulnerability. Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Back Air Attack	Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Neutral Special	Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts for the high-damage range.
Up Special	Made it easier to hit multiple times. Adjusted launch angle of the first attack. Increased attack range of the second attack.

Version 7.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Other	Increased shield size.

Major Changes From Smash 4

	Change
Down Smash (↓ ＋ A)	Increased range. Buff.
Neutral Special (B)	Now only hits once.

How to Unlock Meta Knight

Unlocking Via Smash Mode
38th Fighter Unlocked After unlocking the Lucas, let 10 minutes pass OR play another battle in smash after soft-resetting OR return to the menu from World of Light
Unlocking via Classic Mode
Clear Classic Mode 4 times using Link.
Unlocking via World of Light
Mysterious Dimension

There are three ways to unlock Meta Knight. Completing any of these, then defeating Meta Knight when they appear in the “a New Challenger Appears” screen will allow you to use them afterward.

How to Unlock Characters Fast

Meta Knight Alt Costumes and Skins

Meta Knight Reveal Trailer

Smash Ultimate Character Guides

List of Fighters
Tier List	Unlocking Fighters

Character Stat Lists

Character Stats
Weights of All Characters	Run Speeds of All Characters
Air Speeds of All Characters	Fast Fall Speeds of All Characters